Chess - The Scotsman 01/08/12

THE July FIDE world chess federation ratings was the last of its kind, with demand clamouring for monthly figures to rival that of live ratings and the minimum level now reduced to 1000.

Magnus Carlsen of Norway is the world No 1, and is edging his way towards breaking Garry Kasparov’s all-time high of 2851.

We could see that milestone reached before the end of the year. At Biel, he did the double of two wins in two days by beating tournament leader, Wang Hao, to now take his live rating to 2842.8; all tantalisingly within striking distance of that elusive Kasparov record.

Carlsen’s win over Wang Hao not only inches him closer to that all-time rating record, it also takes him into the joint lead in the tournament alongside the Chinese No 1 with both on 13 points. And with just one win now separating the top four players, we’re set for what could be a dramatic finale to Biel, with just three rounds to play.

Wang Hao, who led the tournament for so long, saw his lead being reined in by the world No 1, who picked the right moment to strike from today’s diagram, with 56...fxg4! 57 Nxg4 (57 Kxe4 a3) 57...Nd6 58 b6 Kc8 59 Ne3 Kb7 60 Nd5 Kc6 and White resigned as the b6 pawn is lost.

Standings: 1-2. Wang Hao and M Carlsen, 13/21; 3. A Giri, 12; 4. H Nakamura, 10; 5. E Bacrot, 6; 6. V Bologan, 1.

A Giri - E Bacrot

45th Biel GM Tournament, (3)

King’s Indian Defence

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 0–0 6 Be2 e5 7 0–0 Nc6 8 d5 Ne7 9 b4 Nh5 10 g3 f5 11 Ng5 Nf6 12 f3 f4 13 b5 fxg3 14 hxg3 h6 15 Ne6 Bxe6 16 dxe6 Qc8 17 Nd5 Qxe6 18 Nxc7 Qh3 19 Rf2 Rac8 20 Rh2 Qxg3+ 21 Rg2 Qh3 22 Qxd6 Rf7 23 c5 Nf5 24 exf5 Rfxc7 25 Be3 Qxf5 26 Rf1 Bf8 27 Bd3 e4 28 fxe4 Qxf1+ 29 Bxf1 Bxd6 30 cxd6 Rc3 31 Bd4 Rf3 32 e5 Rf4 33 Bb2 Nh7 34 e6 Ng5 35 Rxg5 hxg5 36 d7 Rg4+ 37 Bg2 1–0